German research network on ocean acification concludes

An in-depth assessment of the possible
impact of ocean acidification on the environment, society and economy,
as well as the development of management options for decision-makers
were the main topics discussed at the German research network BIOACID
(Biological Impact of Ocean Acidification), now in its final funding
period.

The German Research Network on Ocean Acidification BIOACID took place
on October 6th and 7th at the Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel.
During the event, scientists sought to coordinate their activities for
the final funding period. Besides integrating information from
individual research areas, they also intend to present a joint
synthesis report at the end of 2017.

Since 2009, BIOACID has been researching the impact of ocean
acidification. As one of the largest national research programmes on
the topic, the project has been a significant contributor in
quantifying the efforts of “the other carbon dioxide problem” on
marine life and in giving researchers an insight into the underlying
mechanisms.

As their understanding of the impact of ocean acidification grew, the
scientists were able to broaden their focus from marine organisms to
entire communities and ecosystems, addressing ocean acidification
alongside other environmental factors, said Professor Ulf Riebesell,
marine biologist at GEOMAR and coordinator of BIOACID.

"Another key issue in which BIOACIDE
took the lead concerns the potential for evolutionary adaptation to
ocean change,” he added.

To achieve this, marine biologists, chemists and physicists will
collaborate with economists and social scientists. According to
Riebesell, the objectives of this is to identify the societal and
economic consequences so that management options are developed for
decision-makers and also to communicate their results to the general
public.

“Results of BIOACID are already
incorporated into the Fifth Assessment Report AR5 of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC. For the first time in
this report, acidification was given ample consideration along with
other ocean changes, such as temperature and sea level rise. For the
upcoming climate negotiations in Paris, ocean acidification will be
considered side by side with global warming to define the limits for
further carbon dioxide emissions,” said Professor Hans
Pörtner, animal physiologist at the Alfred Wegener Institute and
deputy coordinator of BIOACID.
"Ocean acidification has reached the
political agenda – and the final phase of BIOACID will be completed
just in time to inform the forthcoming sixth IPCC assessment report."